Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2 is also called Riboflavin. It is essential for the growth and metabolism of nutrients. Vitamin B2 deficiency can be caused by not getting enough of the vitamin from the diet, malabsorption of intestine, or increase in the excretion of the vitamin from the body. The signs and symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency include:

  • cracked and red lips
  • inflammation of the lining of mouth and tongue
  • mouth ulcers
  • cracks at the corners of the mouth
  • sore throat
  • dry and scaling skin
  • fluid in the mucous membranes
  • iron-deficiency anemia

A deficiency may also cause the eyes to become bloodshot, itchy, watery and sensitive to bright light. Vitamin B2 overdose is not harmful and excess intake of vitamin B2 will be excreted.

Sources of Vitamin B2:

Food / 100g Amount (mg)
Yeast extract 11.9
Lamb’s liver 4.6
Grapenuts 1.5
Nori seaweed, dried 1.3
Vegetable pate 1.3
Liver pate 1.2
Roasted venison 0.7
Goat’s milk cheese 0.6
Cheddar cheese 0.5
Eggs 0.5
Tomato sauce for pasta 0.5

How Much Vitamins You Need?

Dietary reference intake (DRIs): recommended intakes for infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1 is also called Thiamin. It is a water-soluble vitamin that is needed for:

  • enzyme activity
  • metabolism of nutrients

Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause myriad problems including neurodegeneration, wasting and death. It can also lead to beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Excess intake of vitamin B1 is not harmful as it will be excreted.

Sources of Vitamin B1:

Food / 100g Amount (mg)
Yeast extract 4.1
Vegetable burger 4.1
Vegetable pate 2.1
Sunflower seeds 1.6
Bacon rashers, back, grilled 1.2
Peanuts, plain 1.1
Pork, lean fillet 1.1
Wholemeal spaghetti, dry 1.0

How Much Vitamins You Need?

Dietary reference intake (DRIs): recommended intakes for infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A is essential for the following body functions:

  • vision
  • growth
  • body development
  • healthy skin

Excess retinol consumption is linked with certain birth defects and foods high in retinol, such as liver, should be avoided by pregnant women.

Sources of Vitamin A:

Food / 100g Amount (µg)
Lamb’s liver 17300
Chicken liver 9700
Liver pate 7400
Cod liver oil 1800
Butter 887
Double cream 654
Stilton cheese, blue 386
Cheddar cheese, average 363
Brie 320
Eggs 190

Sources of Beta-carotene:

Food / 100g Beta-carotene Equivalents (µg) Retinol (µg)
Carrot, old 8118 1353
Sweet potato (orange-fleshed), baked 5130 855
Swiss chard 4596 766
Chilli peppers 4110 685
Red peppers (capsicum) 3840 640
Spinach 3840 640
Butternut squash 3270 545
Curly kale 3144 524
Spring greens 2628 438
Cantoloupe melon 1998 333
Mango 1800 300
Tomato puree 1300 217
Savoy cabbage 990 165
Dark-leave lettuce 910 151
Tomatoes 640 107
Broccoli 575 96

µ = one millionth, 0.000001

How Much Vitamins You Need?

Dietary reference intake (DRIs): recommended intakes for infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.

Vitamins

Vitamins are essential to proper functioning of our body’s metabolism. Infants and children are growing rapidly. As a result, vitamins are especially important for good health and proper development of infants and children.

There are two categories of vitamins, namely:

  • Fat-soluble vitamins: Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins, which can be stored in our body.
  • Water-soluble vitamins: Vitamin C and vitamins B are water-soluble vitamins, which can not be stored in our body. Excessive water-soluble vitamins will be excreted in the urine. As a result, these vitamins have to be consumed on a regular basis.

Below is a list of vitamins

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamins B
    • Vitamin B1
    • Vitamin B2
    • Vitamin B3
    • Vitamin B6
    • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K

How Much Vitamins You Need?

Dietary reference intake (DRIs): recommended intakes for infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for the following body functions:

  • healing
  • promote healthy teeth and skin
  • help absorption of iron

A diet that includes the fruits and vegetables (listed below) will help to ensure that your child is getting enough of vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to poor wound healing, bleeding gums, lowered resistance to infection, nosebleeds and scurvy. Excess amounts of vitamin C can be dangerous. Relatively large doses of vitamin C may cause indigestion.

Sources of Vitamin C:

Food / 100g Amount (mg)
Guava 230
Red chilli peppers 225
Peppers, red (capsicum) 140
Blackcurrants, stewed 130
Peppers, yellow (capsicum) 130
Peppers, green (capsicum) 120
Green chilli peppers 120
Spring green, lightly boiled 77
Strawberries 77
Kale, lightly boiled 71
Papaya 60
Brussels sprouts, lightly boiled 60
Kiwi fruit 59
Cabbage, red 55
Oranges 54
Broccoli, green or purple, lightly boiled 44
Baby sweetcorn, lightly boiled 39
Nectarines 37
Mango 37
Grapefruit 36
Green salad 36

How Much Vitamins You Need?

Dietary reference intake (DRIs): recommended intakes for infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for the following body functions:

  • abortion of calcium and phosphorus, helping to form bones and carry out other mineralization
  • the growth of skin cells

Vitamin D can be manufactured by the action of sunlight on the skin. If a child does not receive adequate amounts of vitamin D daily, then the deficiency can impair bone mineralization and may lead to several bone diseases such as:

  • bone softening diseases, rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults
  • osteoporosis.

Sources of Vitamin D:

Food / 100g Amount (µ g)
Cod liver oil 210
Kipper fillet, baked 25
Red salmon, canned in brine, drained 23.1
Cod roe, fried in oil 17
Herring fillet. grilled 16.1
Sardines, grilled 12.1
Rainbow trout, grilled 11
Salmon, grilled 9.6
Smoked mackerel fillet 8
Margarine 7.9
Tuna, fresh 7.2
Sardine canned in oil, drained 5
Tuna canned in brine, drained 4
Tuna canned in oil, drained 3
Eggs 1.8

µ = one millionth, 0.000001

How Much Vitamins You Need?

Dietary reference intake (DRIs): recommended intakes for infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.

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